Venice

Practical Info about Venice

Getting around the city

As you might expect from a city famous for its canals, water is the main medium of transport in Venice. Water buses, known as Vaporetti, ply the Grand Canal and make scheduled stops. The Vaporetti are a far cheaper way to get around Venice than the famous gondolas, piloted by stripe-shirted gondoliers, who for an extra fee will serenade passengers. Travelling down the Grand Canal is obligatory but the Vaporetti are well-suited for this purpose. Once ashore the only way to explore is on foot, through the narrow alleys and lively squares; there are no cars at all in Venice. Make sure you have a good map as the city can be confusingly labyrinthine.

Time

GMT +1 (GMT +2 between the last Sunday in March and the Saturday before the last Sunday in September).

Electricity

Electrical current in Italy is 230 volts, 50Hz. A variety of plugs are in use, including the European-style two-pin plug.

Currency

Italy's currency is the Euro (EUR), which is divided into 100 cents. Those arriving in Italy with foreign currency can obtain Euros through any bank, ATM or bureaux de change. ATMs are widespread. Credit cards are accepted in upmarket establishments and shops around the cities. Banks are closed on weekends, but tend to have better rates than casas de cambios.

Communication

The international access code for Italy is +39. There can be high surcharges on calls made from hotels and it is generally cheaper to use a calling card. Public telephone boxes take phone cards for local and international calls, which can be bought from newsagents. The local mobile phone operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most international operators. Internet cafes are available in the main towns and resorts.

Climate

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Venice experiences very high humidity, with hot weather in July and August, the height of summer. Temperatures in summer (June to August) usually range between 86°F and 91°F (30°C-33°C), dropping in winter (December to February) to between 32°F and 37°F (0°C-3°C). Venice often experiences thunderstorms and rain showers which, particularly in spring and autumn, tend to cause flooding. It is best to pack waterproof shoes or boots to avoid a soaking in these seasonal floods. Spring, summer and autumn are all considered peak tourist season, with April to October being the busiest. However, it is a popular destination all year round and can get uncomfortably crowded.

Venice Marco Polo Airport

Getting to the city

Buses go to the Venice-Santa Lucia railway station, via Piazzale Roma, every 20 minutes. The ATVO FlyBus leaves roughly every three hours from 6am until 11:40pm daily; tickets cost €7 and the buses depart from Stand Three. ACTV buses leave the airport far more regularly; buses 4 and 5 operate between the airport and central Venice. Bus 4 is the night bus and leaves the airport at 10:07pm, 11:07pm and 11:47pm from Monday to Saturday. Bus 5 operates between 4:08am and 11:10pm at 10-20 minute intervals from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays bus service operates between 4:08am and 11:10pm at 40-minute intervals. The Alilaguna boats are a faster way into central Venice. There are four different lines, and prices range between €7-15. The dock is a 5-10 minute walk from the airport.

Car rental

Airport taxi's

Both regular and water taxis are available from the airport. An authorised (yellow) taxi cab to the city centre takes between 40 minutes and an hour, and costs upwards of €30.

Transfer between terminals

Not applicable, as there is only one terminal building.

Facilities

Facilities at the airport include ATMs, currency exchange facilities, a post office, banks, a tax-free customs service, VIP lounges, a business centre, a prayer room, information desks, travel agencies, baby-changing facilities, a family area, a spa and first aid facilities. There are also a range of shopping and dining options.

Parking

Short-term parking is available in P1 and P2 and starts at €5 for the first two hours or €8 for the first six hours. Long-term options are available in car parks 3, 4 and 5 and range from €5 per day to €11 per day depending upon season and parking lot. All parking lots are within easy walking distance of the terminal.